Do you think it's a bad thing or a bad idea to videotape a babysitter.
By sharone74
@sharone74 (4837)
United States
January 1, 2007 6:59pm CST
I think that it is a good idea to nanny-cam or videotape a child care provider when they come and sit your children. If you have doubts or concerns and you really wanna know what is going down in your home I think that a hidden camera in your home is better than having friends or neighbors drop in. I also think that if you have a church that you go to that asking the youth minister for references to teens that babysit is a good idea as well as if there is a college nearby asking the financial aid department or a workforce developement if they can direct you to any students who are looking to make some extra pocket cash is also a good source of references. I feel that you do want to be careful in your selection and that if there is ever a problem or you have any doubts or questions about their fitness to sit your kids fire them and find someone else. Also if your children are of an age where they can talk and communicate as well as cogitate, sitting them down after you get home or the next morning at breakfast and getting their impressions is a good idea also.
11 people like this
99 responses
@soldenski (2503)
• United States
2 Jan 07
I think in the day and age, it is a very good idea to tape your baby-sitter. Unless they were recommended by a trusted friend. I would not leave me kids with a stranger, I am lucky that I don't have to work, and I have quite a bit of family around me that they will watch the kids.
5 people like this
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
2 Jan 07
You are very lucky but with our nomadic culture it is not unusual for people to find themselves and their families far from home and family and all that is familiar. And sometimes it is not wise to trust family to watch your children either. I have hears some stories that would curl your hair!
3 people like this
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
26 Mar 07
the legality of closed-circuit monitaring is dependant upon which state you live in and whether or not you have additional reason to suspect that something is not right with your child care provider that leads you to...
Or in all 50 of the United States there is a thing called an informed consent to video and audio monitoring in the workplace. Regardless of the fact that it is your home, it is their workplace and legally any employer can video tape and monitor employee areas.
1 person likes this
@aquariancore (608)
• United States
2 Jan 07
There are too many horror stories about babysitters. Everyone who has to depend on outside the family child care should take every step possible to protect their child. It is your right to know what happens when you are not there.
4 people like this
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
2 Jan 07
Darned right! Thank you for your response!
1 person likes this
@caramello (4377)
• Australia
2 Jan 07
I would not have a problem doing this, but if I had any "gut" feeling that I did not feel comfortable with the babysitter then I would not have them. But I have never really had to anyway so have not experienced anything to have me do this!
3 people like this
@caramello (4377)
• Australia
2 Jan 07
Yes I have two children that are now young adults and never had a babysitter for them apart from a member of my family.
1 person likes this
@mirage108 (3402)
• United States
2 Jan 07
well I think it is a good idea. but what I would use is a web cam and use time laps recording. it would not be notice able, I doubt you could use it in a court but you could use it for your own satisfaction and decide weather you want to use that sitter again or not.
4 people like this
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
2 Jan 07
Well said! Thank you for your response.
1 person likes this
@jfeets726 (775)
• United States
2 Jan 07
I am a stay at home / work at home mother of a soon to be three year old; therefore, I really haven't been faced with this situation yet, but I am sure that there may come a time when I need to think about it. For the most part now our daughter comes with us wherever we go or else we leave her with family.
I really agree with your tips. When I was younger, I took a babysitting course with our local Red Cross chapter. I am not sure if they still offer those babysitting courses, but you got a little certificate and parents could even call the Red Cross office to get phone nubmer of local babysitters who had taken the course. My local high school also offered a similar service.
I thinkt that I would try and take the above mentioned approaches before using a babysitter cam or a nanny cam, but I wouldn't completely rule them out.
3 people like this
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
2 Jan 07
My suggestions are in addition to not in lieu of. I think that before you go trusting anyone with your children more than once that they should have no problem with you possibly observing them or coming home unexpectedly to check in and leaving again i think there is nothing wrong with a little suspicion when it comes to strangers around your family.
1 person likes this
@Metallion (2227)
• United States
2 Jan 07
I think if it's someone you aren't 100% sure of then yes you probably should have a camera. But telling them that it's there actually would accomplish the same goal so I'd tell them before they started working for me that they would be taped while babysitting so they knew. That way they couldn't claim it was a violation of privacy later.
4 people like this
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
2 Jan 07
If they are sitting in your home they should have no expectation of privacy and from a paper I recently did on employee privacy in the workplace I can truly tell you that in America there has never been a major ruling for the employee on the issue of work place privacy!
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
2 Jan 07
I can appreciate the concerns of a parent for the welfare of their child, but I really think that this is an infringement of the baby sitter's rights. It seems wrong to video someone without their knowledge.
If you feel that there is any doubt as to whether you can trust a particular person then you should not be asking them to look after your child. Furthermore, if you cannot trust anyone to care for your child then do not leave the child in the first place.
As I said, I can understand the desire of a parent to protect their child, but we must keep things in perspective.
1 person likes this
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
13 Jan 07
I never suggested doing it without their knowledge. And no I am not suggesting that they go in the bathroom (that's just twisted!) but it is better to b e safe than sorry. And the assumption that if something happened then it's already too late is ridiculous! You prevent a recurrance by letting them know what you saw.
@BittyBiddy (2903)
• Ireland
2 Jan 07
I agree with Asylum, and I'm horrified to see that so many people think it's right to videotape a person without their knowledge.
I'm wondering where potential "babysitter-tapers" draw the line on where to place cameras. Do you place them in the sitting room and kitchen? Or do you go a step further and place them in bedrooms? Or another step and place them in the bathroom too? I mean, awful things have happened in bathrooms. Will you place them outside in the garden? In the babysitter's car?
Are you going to watch the video when you come home, or will you have some sort of live feed? I mean, let's face it, if you watch the video when you come home, and something has gone wrong, then it's too late really, isn't it? The answer goes back to Asylum's post - "if you cannot trust anyone to care for your child then do not leave the child in the first place"
@kodeshkodashim (925)
• United States
14 Jan 07
Hell ya it's good to tape the baby sitter.You touch one of mine, I'll touch you in away youve never seen.and if ya go though my $hit ...I'll go through your $hit and yo familes.I'll start with the people that mean the most to ya.I can only say don't ever Fu..ck with my seed.
1 person likes this
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
2 Jan 07
Thank you, I didn't think that it was and when you use a webcam you can check in from work at random times which I think is a great use of technology, the internet, and parenting skills. Just don't do it so much that you get in trouble with your boss!
1 person likes this
@penny78256 (288)
• United States
2 Jan 07
i think it is an excellent idea these days you can't be too trusting with people
2 people like this
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
2 Jan 07
Darn skippy ma'am. Your children are your most valuable asset and should be protected and treasured.
1 person likes this
@marriedman111399 (1207)
• United States
2 Jan 07
I think that it is a good idea to tape or have a nanny cam in your house to watch the babbysitter. If your child gets hurt somehow and you ask the babbysitter what happened and she tells you and you really dont believe her you can go back and watch the tape to see what really happened.
1 person likes this
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
2 Jan 07
That is if the camera is set up in the room that it occurs and at the right angle to catch it. I think that it is more important to communicate with your child to find out what goes on when you are not there. The cam is just to set your mind at ease and so that you can know for certain and see with your own eyes how this stranger interacts with your child.
@MentalPanic (227)
• Sri Lanka
2 Jan 07
Do the law allow to record someone without the person do know. In some countries you make a crime if u do like this
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
2 Jan 07
No they have nanny-cam companies that will come in and install tiny cameras in stuffed animals and in other places throughout your home for you to monitor your child care provider. also if you just fire them without filing some kind of charges against them you do not neccessarily have to tell them why you are firing them or that you are firing them at all. You just don't use them anymore. If you live in a country where this is a crime when you hire them you inform them in writing and make them sign it when you hire them that you may hide a camera or listening device in your home. A legitamate provider who had nothing to worry about has nothing to worry about right?Your children are your most valuable asset even if I had to break the law to ensure their safety I would do it in a heartbeat!
3 people like this
@pleasertoy (2)
• United States
12 Mar 07
Without a nanny cam in place, parents will never know for shure how their children are actually getting taken care of. Hidden cameras have helped many people catch abusive nannies that otherwise would have continued to abuse or neglect their children. If you suspect your child i not being properly treated, get a hidden camera.
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
14 Jan 07
Peace of mind could be more expensive. And then you know for certain whether or not to leave your child in this person's care.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
2 Jan 07
its definitely a good idea to nanny-cam while you are gone. its just another job for the babysitter and you being the employer, have every right to know what kind of service you are paying for. the same idea applies to most offices these days, where they have CCTV to monitor the employees all the time.
@jesi06 (279)
• United States
2 Jan 07
Not at all! I think you should first check references of course, but if you feel something may be going on...do it! In fact I think maybe even from the start. Let's think about this...If I work at a store..I am probably on video,at a bank..yep on video,and even at McDonald's..SURE enough, I am on video. The list goes on and on. Now, WHY would you be on video, because you may get robbed or maybe doing the robbing (lol) so then why should it be anything less that you are taping the babysitter.Isn't a human life more important than money anyday?
1 person likes this
@sushantv (10)
• India
2 Jan 07
I think it is a good idea to videotape a babysitter. In this way, you will be able to know if your baby is being taken good care or not by a babysitter.
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
13 Jan 07
the camera never blinks and tells you what's going on better than the random drop in method
